Amman

The modern capital of Jordan lies on the ruins of the Roman Philadelphia, a member of the Decapolis. Since the city was mostly uninhabited from early medieval times until the 1920s, it lacks the typical atmosphere of old Arab cities. However one can find beautiful modern buildings jammed in the rapidly developing city. Amman can be a good starting point for day-trips to desert castles, Jerash and the north or to Madaba and the Dead Sea.

Stretching above modern Amman at an altitude of 850 meters, the Citadel is a must for all tourists visiting Amman. It used to be the enormous Acropolis of ancient Philadelphia, the predecessor of the present city.

Surrounded by 1700m-long walls, this complex was more than just a fortresses above the city, in fact it was a standalone entity within the ancient city. History buffs will say that there are plenty of other, much better preserved ancient fortresses throughout the Middle-East. However this one is still definitely worth to be visited, because it enables visitors to understand how an antique Roman and Byzantine settlement was transformed into an Umayyad city. In other words: this monument is simply a summary of entire Jordanian history.

Al-Husseini Mosque

King Hussein Mosque, better known as Al-Husseini Mosque is considered to be Amman's grand mosque. Built by King Abdullah I in 1924, soon after the establishment of Jordan, and restored in 1987, this mosque is exactly in the heart of Downtown of Amman.

Abu Darwish (or Darweesh) mosque was built at the top of Jebel Al-Ashrafiyeh in 1961. Commissioned by King Hussein and Mustafa Jakazi, this is an unmistakable building with its alternating layers of black and white stone. It can be a perfect sunset spot and offers stunning views of the city.

Built in 1989 during the reign of King Houssein, this mosque is dedicated to his grandfather, King Abdullah I, the first monarch of Jordan. This is the only mosque in Amman that openly welcomes all non-Muslim visitors (except for prayer times).

Ahl Al Kahf

The Cave of the Seven Sleepers (Ahl al-Kahf in Arabic) is a famous pilgrimage site in the outskirts of Amman, just about 7km from city centre.

It is associated with a common story of Christianity and Islam that gradually faded away and got forgotten by most Christians. However, Holy Qur’an still preserves this story in Surah al-Kahf 18 (the cave).

We have to note that this is just one of the places that claim to be the cave of the seven sleepers, and the most famous one is located at Ephesus, Turkey.

Qasr-al-'Abd

Large megalithic stone blocks, Hittite lion carvings mixed with elements of Greco-Roman architecture – these are the characteristics of an extraordinary and yet controversial building in Iraq-al Amir (Arak-el-Emir ). Nothing is 100% sure about this building except for one thing – there are simply no similar structures not just in Jordan, but also in the entire Middle-East.

Jordanian Museum of Popular Traditions - established inside the restored Roman Theatre - collects Jordanian and Palestinian folk heritage from all over Jordan since 1971. Its aim is to protect and conserve this heritage and to present it for future generations.

Built in 191 AD, the Nymphaeum was the most majestic fountain in ancient Philadelphia, a two-storey-high complex adorned with statues and various stone carvings. It is believed to have contained a three meter deep pool with an area of 600 square meters, which was continuously refilled with fresh water. The ancient stream and a Roman bridge stood exactly at the spot where now a busy road runs.